Aircel-Maxis deal: SC OKs CBI probe
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave the go-ahead to the CBI to carry out its probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal, involving former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, arising out of irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case. The top court said the agency need not wait for sanction which is necessary to obtain in case of a probe against an official holding high position.
A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and K.S. Radhakrishnan expressed concern over “very tardy progress in the probe of the case” allegedly involving Mr Maran and granted two months to wrap up procedure for filing chargesheet. It asked the CBI to file the chargesheet irrespective of whether Malaysian authorities provide details on the controversial deal or not. “It is clarified that the final probe of the case should not be delayed on that account,” the bench said while making it clear that “it is interested that the matter should reach the logical end”.
“We are concerned that the chargesheet should be filed. Unfortunately for the last three years they have been investigating a particular side of the case which is not relevant. But we will not pass any order as it will derail the case. So whatever be the case it should reach a final conclusion,” the bench said. The top court made the remarks after taking note of the CBI’s contention that the delay in completing the probe was due to non-cooperation from Malaysian authorities despite the issuance of letters of rogatory (LoR).
The top court also directed the CBI to place before it the minutes of the March 7, 2006 meeting of the FIPB.
(Foreign Investment Promotion Board) giving nod to the deal after Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy alleged that clearance granted to it was not on official records.
Mr Maran has been accused of forcing Chennai-based telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell stakes in Aircel in 2006 to a Malaysian firm Maxis Group owned by Kuala Lumpur-based business tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan.
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